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March 27, 1928.

G. FREEMAN DIMMER WALL SWITCH Filed April 1, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 27, 1928. 1,664,165

G. FREEMAN DIMMBR WALL SWITCH 660236 FPEGman Patented Mar. 27, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE FREEMAN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

DIMMER WALL SWITCH.,

Application filed April 1,

vsistance coil and a revolvable contact arm whereby while one end of said am is in contact with the resistance coil the opposite end is out of contact and vice versa.

Other objects will appear as the disclosure progresses. The drawings are intended merely to'indicate a possible embodiment of the invention. It is obvious that the actual needs of manufacture may necessitate certain mechanical changes. It is therefore not intended to limitthe invention' to the embodiment illustrated, but rather to define suchlimits inthe ap ended claims.

For a more 'detaile understanding of the invention, attention is now called to the drawings in which-a preferred embodiment is shown illustrated. Q

In general the deviceconsists of a housing having therein a resistance coil, means to position the coil in the correct position, a contact arm arranged to contact with the coil, and a knob on' the exterior of the housing fixed on thesame shaft with the contact arm for manually revolving said armclockwise or counter-clockwise.

For a more detailed understanding of the invention, attention is now called to the drawings in which a preferred embodiment is shown illustrated;

Figure 1 is a front view of the switch.

' Fig. 2 is a similar view as Fig. 1 with a. A

portion of the switch plate broken away.

line of Fig.

which like reference characters denote like parts throughout the specification, numeral Fig.3 is a detail of the core'and resistance I 1927. Serial Ho."180,199.

1 designates the outlet box, 2 the switch housing and 3 the core on which the resistance wire 4 is wound.

The core is made from a non-conducting material and provided with continuous evenly 'spacedgroovesb into which is tightly wound the resistance wire. (See-Fig.

- 4 The ends ofIthe wireare-fastened uiider the-tightening screws 6 at the top andbottom of the core, With the" exception of'the contact portion 7 of the core where the re "sistance wire" is exposed, the entire winding is treated with an insulating, heat-resisting, baked enamel finish. This enamel finish serves not only as an insulation of all sides except the contact surface 7, but aids in keeping the'spacingof the coil rigid.

To support and fix the position of the core in the exact center of the housing 2 a pair of leveling 'screws 8 are provided. As noted in Fig. 4 thescrews are threaded at the ends and fit in the top and'bottoin of the core. By revolving the screws-clockwise or counter-clockwise the vertical position of thecore can be accurately adjusted. I

Arranged to contact with the resistance coil' 4' is a' contact arm '9" fixed on'jthe shaft 10. The shaft is adapted to revolve in a bushing 11 of a conducting inetal'housed in the switch plate 12 made of a'jnon-conducting material; At'th'eoutside end of the shaft is fastened a'cont'rol knob 13 made from a phenol condensation compound for manually turning'the contact arm 9. Placed upon the inner -end of=the bushing 11 is'a contact element (14 attached to one'of the cables'15, the other end of the cable being '1 connected to another cable 16 which leads to the source'of current. For positioning the shaft 10 and-its associated elements in place a lock nut 17 is provided. Numeral 18 designates a conducting element leading from the bottom end of the resistancewire to the cable 19 leading to the lighting fixtures. ;At the top of the outlet box the cables 16 and 19 enter a standard flexible metallic "conduit and are supported by a cable clamp 20.

As noted in Fig. 5 the left hand side 21 ofthe front of core 3 is offset so that when one end of the arm is in'contact with the resistance wire the other end is free to idle. To ventilate the interior of the switch a pair of slotted openings 22 are formed in the plate 12. Engraved on the knob 13 is a directional linefil which correspondswith the positighcitthf; contact arm; Cooperating with this line are legends Oil; Dim and Bright engraved in the plate 12. I

The operation of this device is' 'ris fol-lows: As indicated in Figs. 1 and 2 the knob 13 is shown in the oil position. Wh'en the knob is turned clockwise, theupper, end. of the arm 9 will contact with tlie resistance wire, ese thee e rical circuit and r y te n n' ie g ts ery liin- As ekn b continues to turn the lights become brighter and. brighter until the contact arm, reaches ecne ntn irth bot om o he. 11. wh ch .ggrnesponds to the brightest condition of. the sl s I mea tim he nnesit sl 0f th .cgntget aiim has idled, passing in front. of the ofiiset portion of the core without mak- .l .-a. Q .t-ilt- Totu n off the. g t ruptly', another; Slight turn of. the knob in the s rne-d .ireet,ion and the contact arnrwill be Qfiwthe coil. and'the circuit opened. This will bring the arm to the off? position again,

To turnthe lightsottgradually the knob istnrnedgin the opposite direction, countereloeltwise 'from the full bright. position to the pointwvhere the contact arm ceases to tonchthe' coil. Either. part otthe double contact arrn can be used for makingv contact, sqthat itis'not necessary to turn. the knol); .thr ou gh a complete revolution before starting the gradual brightening. process all over, again. Similarly, to turn the lights full without going through the gradual brightening process, 'a slight turn in the counterclockwise direction is all that is nee esary,

It willthus be seen that I; have provided a si np le and efiieient-dimmer switch to controlthe lights ota room. so, arranged-that a, s ingle knob is usedto brighten or dim the lights or-turn them on or off. The lights can be dimmcdto suit the occasion, obviatingjtl emecessity 0I.tt1llill1g.0fi individual lamps to reduce the glare. Also th sdevice dgesjaway with unsightlykeysockets and pul;l-. ehains, which. mar the decorative .efiect o f .,an otherwise beautiful lighting fixture, hilsmeking the fixture. less xpensive.

.Heving thus described..my. invention. I desire. teel iin I I In a. all. switclrcf the class described fQI.. .QI1.ti:0lli ng remote electric. lightbulbs.

incl di g- .a resistan e il. having n. fiset portion, a contact arm having two cont-pct Points at b exi se d pi o e adj c n the emen. of said 0.0. 1, the ends of. said contact ivoting. and

arm being, equidistant. from the point, mea ns for graduallylightm dimmi gsaid lights, and. means, for. a ruptly lighting and dimming said lights.

switch.

for controlling remote electric. light; bulbs including a. revolvable contactarm and, a s s a ce ee h s' f etper emeeid contactarmliavingJtW-O contact pointsv at theends, and pivotedadjacent the center o'f. the ei he. nds e id ent'act er 'L eiP q idistant r m the i er he m an to. ra a y i h n im. beep-Fly light 4 e ti ish it-ii hter b eturni ig at sai on e itm. a

4. In a device of the class deseribed fa s ng e -e sten Q h' e'n v tedmenteet term a n -et-ne n s at re. epnesi e. ends and means tocontactone end qtthevcontact arm ata time with-the saidgresistancecoil: for. making and .breaking. an electriccirci it when the said arm. is revo1ved;.. 5. Ina device otthe-class descrihed a;,resistance coil Wound-on a core, a pivoted, tact-.arnrhaying.contact points. at the-op site ends and pivoted. adjacent the; cenger aid-r e ien edapt d o-e ntee 'n hsei resistance, coil for making. andbreakingegr e tr ci uit the e de tseii mentum e ng q idistan -h sweepers. the saidcgne, ying nn. fiset pogt1og..so n y.- we. nd i we i 'eenteet v a d sisten t i a e ime- 6. ln-a,-..devicexqf the;.class, a resistance coil wound oma cone, aliqns ng, for said cone, adj usting screws fonpositions i s,- e pi e en eet m-he r to eontaetiw-ith said resistance-coil formal ing and breakinganelectric circuit, thesaid core having an-ofiset portionso only. one .end ofsaidnrm win -contact with said resistance coil at. .One time, theonposite. end, being. free to idle.

7. In adevice.oftheclassdescribed, aresistance. coil wound on a. core, a,.hou sing, for said-core, the-top. and. bottonl o f said core supported by adjust ngrscrevtsn Blyoted. icgntact arm adapted .to. o ta t. I with said, resistance .coil for, making; 1 dbreaking n. lee r e rcuit, -s t x .heyingnm fieet-tpert e iee 154. ie edl of z idv will contact with said resistance coil a one t m h pne i idibein ze t .e; e

switch plate at the front of said h o s ng nd itp i i l swi hin, -ei -.sw ehp ate. ent e in eb ii tt ntsn teh i e lee I- ese ibedti controlling the circuit of remote llghts, the

combination with a resistance coil having an offset portion, of a pivoted contact arm having the contacts at the opposite ends and pivoted adjacent the center of the coil for contacting with said coil for making and breaking said circuits, the ends of said contact arm being equidistant from the pivoting point, the said arm adapted to gradually increase the intensity of said lights when turned clockwise and to suddenly turn on the lights when turned counter-clockwise.

9. In a switch of the class described for controlling the electric circuit of remote lights, the combination of a resistance coil having an offset portion, of a pivoted contact arm for contacting with said coil for making and breakingsaid circuit, the ends of said contact arm being equidistant from the pivoting point, the said arm pivoted adjacent the center of said coil and adapted to gradually decrease the intensity of the lights when turned counter-clockwise and to increase the intensity of the lights when turned clockwise.

10. In a switch of the class described for controlling the electric circuit of remote lights, the combination of a resistance coil having an offset portion, of a pivoted contact arm for contacting with said coil for making and breaking said circuit, the ends of said contact arm being equidistant from the pivoting point, the said arm pivoted adjacent the center of said coil and adapted to gradually turn on said lights, increase the intensity of the lights and suddenly turn off the lights when the said arm is turned clockwise.

11. In a switch of the class described for controlling the electric circuit of remote lights, the combination of a resistance coil having an offset portion, of a pivoted contact arm for contacting with said coil for making and breaking said circuit, the ends of said contact arm being equidistant from the pivoting point, the said arm pivoted adjacent the center of said coil and adapted to suddenly turn on the lights, gradually decrease the intensity of the lights and turn off the lights when turned counter-clockwise.

12. In a switch of the class described for controlling the electric light circuit of remote lights, the combination of a resistance coil having an offset portion, of a pivoted contact arm having the contacts at the opposite ends for contacting with said coil, the ends of said contact arm being equidistant from the pivoting point, the said lights adapted to be turned off from a dim to a bright light and to be turned off when the said arm is turned clockwise, and said lights adapted to be turned on abruptly, gradually dimmed and turned ofl when said arm is turned counter-clockwise.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

GEORGE FREEMAN. 

